Unemployment rate in Libya
Libya: Unemployment rate was 18.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
18.8%
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
10th
of 186 countries
All-time high
19.8%
in 2021
All-time low
18.6%
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in Libya, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Libya recorded 18.8% for unemployment rate in 2025.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Libya peaked at 19.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 18.6%, in 1991.
That places Libya 10th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Unemployment rate in Libya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.6% | — |
| 1992 | 18.8% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 19.0% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 19.3% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 19.3% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 19.2% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 19.2% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 19.2% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 19.2% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 19.3% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 19.2% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 19.3% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 19.1% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 18.9% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 18.7% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 18.8% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 18.8% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 19.0% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 19.3% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 19.3% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 19.5% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 19.0% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 19.3% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 19.3% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 19.7% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 19.6% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 19.1% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 18.9% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 19.1% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 19.7% | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 19.8% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 19.2% | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 18.7% | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 19.1% | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 18.8% | -1.7% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 18.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 3.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Libya's 18.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.0%, 2.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.1% | 18.6% | 19.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.0% | 18.7% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.3% | 18.9% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.2% | 18.7% | 19.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More work & labour data for Libya
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1881 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1642 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.213 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.54 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.4664 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,184 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 939.57 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,815 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,969 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 9,784 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Libya?
- Unemployment rate in Libya was 18.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 19.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.6% in 1991.
- How does Libya rank for unemployment rate?
- Libya ranks 10th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.